Breather reservoir



Jan. 13, 1942. A. WILKIN BREATHER RESERVOIR Filed Jan. 29, 1940 PatentedJan. 13, 1942 UNI-TED STATES". PATEN-TY ;,OFFICE.

. nnas'rnnn REsEnvorn Lester A. 'wnkinjnast Chicago, ma. page to 7Graver Tank & Mfg. Co.,-In'c.-, Catasan'qua. lea- 1 acorporation-ofDelaware U M Application January 29, 1940. Serial No. 's ei'ss i6'Claims. (oils-17s) The invention relates to devices for storing vaporssuch as received from storage tanks containing gasoline or othervolatile liquids and has more particular reference to a breather reser-A voir of the type having a movable diaphragm 7 position ofthediaphragmand the improved balancing means when th reservoir is inflated.

' Referring tothe drawing, the steel shell-I0 comprising the housing ofthe reservoir may consist of a new tank built especially for thepurpose, or said housing may comprise aniold tank I that-has beenrenovated in order to accommodate the present structure.- The vaporsupply line I I has connection with the tank I 0 in the vicinity of itsbase and said, tank is provided with a which can be economicallymanufactured and Another object is to provide a breather reservoirhaving a flexibl wall or "diaphragm to pro-' vide a variable 'vaporspace and which is automatically balanced by improved means so that thediaphragm is maintained under control during movement in an up and downdirection.

Another object resides in the provision of a gas holder of the breathertype having at least one diaphragm of flexible material capable ofmoving to vary the vapor space of the holder and which is'equipped withone or more loading members of improved construction and operation forcontrolling the horizontal position of the diaphragm during movement.

Another object is to provide improved loading means for the flexiblediaphragm of a breather reservoir wherein a ring is employed to definethe central portion of the diaphragm and which improved loading meanswill be suspended from the ring and have operation automatically tomaintain the ring in a horizontal plane as the diaphragm moves in avertical direction to vary the vapor space of the reservoir.

With these and various other objects in .view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be morefull described and particularly pointed out I y 4 cured as byngtotheinteriorsurface' of in the specification,- drawing and claimsappended hereto. e In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of thedevice and wherein like reference characters are used to designate likeparts- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a single diaphragm typeof breather reservoir embodying the improvements of the invention withthe diaphragm being shown in deflated position; and Figure 2 is avertical sectional view of the relatively thin bottom member I 2'resting directly on the ground and an-arcuate or dome-shaped top l3having a manhole cover [4 permitting access'to the interior of-the tank.The cylindrical wall of the tank is likewise provided with a manor evenhole cover 15 which may be removed for access to. the interior when itis necessary to inspect the base of the tank in the vicinity of thesupply line ll.

It is well known thatthe vapor pressure within gasoline-storage tanksincreases during the midpart of the day due to the direct rays of' thesun on the tanks and this is especially ,true in the summertime. Duringthe night the temperature may drop to an extent where a large portion ofthe vapors are condensed. The vapor pressure within .said storage tankswill therefore vary within relatively wide limits. For this reason thevapor space of the tanks is generally connectedfwith astorage reservoirwhich will ing actionIof the-volatile .vapors admitted to the voperateto store the vapors when excessive pressures are-generated ,andreturnsaid vapors to the tanks when an opposite or vacuum condition exists.

v To accommodate fiu :tuating vapor pressure tank. Thediaphragmyi'ssecuredaround its periphery to the securing; ring l1, which-ring isshaped like an angle;,member in cross section, with the horizontallegithereof being suitably se- 'the tank at about a central point in theheight thereof. An annular facing member I8 is suitably securedtb theinside: periphery of said ring by means of screws Hand between saidmem'- her and thenring-the terminal end of the dia-' phragm IS'ispositioned.-- This terminal portion of the fabric comprising thediaphragm is thus securely held and the annular facing member may bedrawn up-sufliciently'tight by the screws I 9- breather reservoir ofFigure 1 illustrating the to form a seal, preventing the escape ofvapors from the lower portion of the tank past the diaphragm' into theupper portion of the tank. 5

Therefore. the action of the vapors admitted to the tank by the supplypipe II is to inflate said diaphragm, causing upward movement of thesame, and when the pressure within the tank has reached a predeterminedmaximum pressure the diaphragm will assume an inflated position as shownin Figure 2, which is just the reverse of the deflated position ofFigure 1.

The central part of the diapragm carries a ring 20 of metal or the likewhich aids in the control of the diaphragm during its up and downmovement in addition to providing an anchorage for one end of theloading chains '22, which are fixed at their other end to the member 23,depending from the securing ring 11. It will be noted that the chains 22contact the outer periphery of the ring 20 and pass under the same forsecurement to said ring as at 2i. Also it is desirable that the chains22 have a length so that they support the metal ring 20 when thediaphragm is in deflated position and therefore relieve the fabric ofthe diaphragm of the stress and strain which would otherwise be placedon the same.

In operation the vapors from the storage tank are admitted to thebreather reservoir by supply line H and at certain times, such as duringthe day. the vapor pressure will increase. As the pressure increases thefirst movement of the diaphragm takes place with respect to the centralportion which is forced upwardly into a dome shape. Upon a furtherincrease in the pressure the metal ring 20 is bodily lifted and saidring together with a part of the diaphragm moves upwardly. eventuallyassuming the full inflated position shown in Figure 2, when the vaporpressure within the reservoir will be fairly close to a maximum for theparticular device concerned. As the central portion of the diaphragmmoves upwardly it will be observed that more and more weight is placedthereon by the action of the chains 22. These chains therefore functionto apply to the diaphragm a gradually increasing weight, requiring agradually increasing pressure within the reservior to cause thediaphragm to move in an upward direction. When the full in fiatedposition of Figure 2 is reached said loading chains 22 relieve thefabric of the daphragm of substantially all tension and strain whichmight otherwise be placed thereon as a result of the full expandedposition. The diaphragm. since it does contain some slack material, willbulge by reason of the internal pressure but this does not strain thefabric to an extent where there is any danger of the fabric being tornfrom the securing ring.

An additional loading member is provided in the form of a weight 26having connection with the loading ring 20 by means of the chains 21.The weight and'the additional chains function as a balancing device formaintaining the diaphragm, and particularly the central portion definedby the ring 20. in a substantially horizontal position during verticalmovement of the same. As the d aphragm begins its movement from the fulldeflated position of Figure 1 the loading chains 22, which are spacedaround the periphery of the diaphra m. serve to apply a graduallyincreasing wei ht to the diaphragm and which is evenly distributed. Ifany tilting vof th ring 20 should occurit would be difficult for thering to pass through the somewhat restricted opening formed by thesecuring ring l'l. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to properlybalance the ring 20 and automatically shift the weight to one side orthe other to maintain a horizontal position of the same during itsvertical movement. The suspended weight 26 efficiently accomplishes thisfunction and the chains 21 have a length ,whereby the weight 26 ispicked up by the ring 20 just before said ring and the central portionof the diaphragm are to pass through the central opening formed by thesecuring ring H. The chains 21 have connection with the ring 20 at 24 atwhich points the loading chains 22 are also joined to the ring. The loadapplied by said chains and also the weight 26 is therefore transmitteddirectly to the metal ring 20 and this is the case throughout the rangeof movement of the diaphragm from the full deflated position of Figure 1to the inflated position of Figure 2.

It is, of course, understood that the combined weight of the chains 22and 21 and the balancing member 26 willbe determined by the maximumpressure for which the. reservoir is designed. By securing the chains 22and the fabric of the diaphragm to the securing ring H the chains areheld in spaced relation with respect to the walls of the tank and alsothe diaphragm is maintained in spaced relation, thereby preventingcontact with the tank walls. This is a very desirable feature sincemoisture forms on the interior walls of the tank and if the diaphragmhad contact therewith freezing of the same to the walls might occurduring freezing weather. The action of the weight 26 is automatic inbalancing the ring 2. and thus the central portion of the diaphragm andin maintaining the same substantially horizon during movement. Thiscontrol of the diaphragm insures perfect operation of the reservoir forlong periods and the special attention of an operator is not required.

In the present construction of storing device for vapors and the likethe ring 20 may be considered as a movable member imperforate throughoutits extent and having connection with the walls of the housing by theflexible diaphragm I. Said diaphragm, which is substantially cylindricalin shape. provides sealing means, therefore, for the movable member andwhich may comprise the outer ring 20 defining the member, and thematerial 25 which may consist of flexible fabric similar to that of thediaphragm, or the material may consist of a limber metal sheet. Saidmember is actually the moving element of the reservoir and the diaphragml6 functions only to seal the member with respect to the housing. Thechamber of variable capacity forming the present reservoir therebyconsists of the bottom wall l2, the cylindrical side walls of the tank,and the movable top wall as above described.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction ofthe particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing, as variousforms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connectionwith the supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom agaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material withinsaid housing dividing the same into chambers one of which is incommunication with said supply line, annular means carried by saiddiaphragm substantially centrally thereof, flexible means connectingwith said annular means at one end and having connection with the wallof the housing at their other end, said flexible means supporting thediaphragm in deflated position and also limiting upward movement of thediaphragm beyond a full inflated position, and a balancing weightsuspended from said annular means by flexible members, said weighthaving operation to maintain the central portion of the diaphragm in asubstantially horizontal plane during vertical movement thereof.

2. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connectionwith the supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom agaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material withinsaid housing dividing the same into chambers one of which is incommunication with said supply line, annular means carried by saiddiaphragm substantially centrally thereof, flexible means connectingwith said annular means at one end and having connection with the wallof the housing at their other end, said flexible means supporting thediaphragm in deflated position and also limiting upward movement of thediaphragm beyond a full inflated position, a balancing weight, andchains suspending said weight from said annular means, said weighthaving operation to maintain the central portion of the diaphragm in asubstantially horizontal plane during vertical movement thereof.

3. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connectionwith a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseousmedium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material within saidhousing forming with the walls thereof a chamber of variable capacityand which is in communication with the supply line, a

a ring carried by said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof andwhich aids in controlling the diaphragm during movement, a plurality ofchains having connection with said ring at one end and connecting withthe housing at their other end, said chains supporting the diaphragm indeflated position and also limiting upward movement of the diaphragmbeyond a full inflated position, and a balancing weight suspended fromsaid ring by flexible means, said weight having operation-toautomatically maintain the ring and thus the central portion of thediaphragm horizontally positioned during vertical movement thereof.

4. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connectionwith a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseousmedium, a flexible diaphragm of gas im-. pervious material within saidhousing formin with the walls thereof a chamber of variable capacity andwhich is in communication with the supply line, a ring carried by saiddiaphragm substantially centrally thereof and which aids in controllingthe diaphragm during movement, a plurality of chains having connectionwith said ring at one end and connecting with the housin at their otherend, said chains supporting the diaphragm in deflated position and alsolimitin upward movement of the diaphragm beyond a full inflatedposition, a balancing weight, and chains suspending the weight from saidring, said weight having operation to automatically maintam the ring andthus the central portion of the diaphragm horizontally positioned duringmovement thereof in a vertical direction.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a housinghaving connection with a supply line for delivering to and conductingtherefrom a gaseous medium, an imperfora'te member of substantiallycircular shapc adapted to move vertically within said housing, acylindrical diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material connectingsaid circular member to the walls of the housing substantially mid-wayof its height, whereby said member and diaphragm comprise the movablewall of the chamber having communication with the supply line, flexiblemeans secured to the circular member at points spaced around theperiphery of the same for supporting the member in a deflated position,said flexible means applying a gradually increasing weight to thecircular member as the same moves in an upward direction and said meansalso limiting upward movement of the member beyond a full inflatedposition, and a balancing weight suspended from said circular member byflexible means, said weight controlling the circular member duringmovement thereof in a vertical direction and also having operationautomatically to maintain said member in a substantially horizontalplane during said movement.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a housinghaving connection with a supply line for delivering to and conductingtherefrom a gaseous medium, an imperforate niember including an outerring having movement vertically within said housing, a cylindricaldiaphragm of flexible gas impervious material connecting said circularmember to the walls of the housing substantially mid-way of its height,whereby said member and diaphragm comprise the movable wall of thechamber having communication with the supply line, a plurality of chainssecured to the outer ring at spaced points around the periphery of thesame for supporting the member in a deflated position, said chainsapplying a gradually increasing weight to said circular member as thesame moves in an upward directionfland said chains also limiting her ina substantially horizontal plane during said movement.

LESTER A. WILKIN.

